Chapter 8: Recording!

" Two lives were destroyed because of me and no matter how much I regret it, I cannot change the past. Before it gets too late, please get away from me". Her tone was expressing sadness within her.

After all, if I had never encountered that man, nothing of this would have happened. If you persist in staying with me, you'll end up hurt and I don't want that to occur. No matter what, I must put you away from danger.

" You haven't yet answered my question, Angelique! Why must I stay away from you?" He asked once more.

" Don't ask me any more questions and simply do as I say!" I said with a cold expression.

" Answer my question if you want me to do as you say!" He asks with persistence.

" Why are you so stubborn? That man will hurt you if you stay with me. Why don't you understand?" Angelique broke down in front of Angel.

That man! She must be referring to the other person responsible for their pasts. That man must be the evildoer.

" Angelique, tell me who that man is! How is he involved in all this?" He inquired.

" Please, Angel! Don't force me! I don't want to remember this cynical person. That man destroyed my world by taking away the most beautiful thing I had in my life. He separated me from my friends in such a cunning way that no one would believe that such a person is so evil-minded. The blame would always come to me. That's why I can't have friends. As long as I don't have any friends, that man will not hurt them. You'll all be safe as long as you stay away from me". Angelique said in a sad tone.

…

" Please, Angel! Don't approach me anymore and don't get people to get close to me! I know you're a generous and kind person who wants people around him to be happy. I know you care for me and that you can't stand my suffering, but let it be because, by wanting to accomplish a noble cause, the one who'll end up hurt is you. The only thing I wish for you is to be safe and sound".

She wants to protect me and that's why she's pushing me away from her. By doing so, she wishes to save us all by herself. She wants to bear that pain alone and that's what she has been doing all these years. No one was there to shoulder her when she needed it the most. Her friends whom she trusted abandoned her and today she has become a lone wolf. She separated herself from the whole world. She drives those who get too close to her as she doesn't want her terrible past to repeat itself.

Angelique, everyone might have abandoned you, but I won't do the same as them. I shall not leave you alone in this crisis. I shall support you and be your shield from now on.

" I understand your concerns for me, but I can't do what you asked". He said assertively.

" You understand my worries, so why won't you do as I say? Why won't you listen to me, Angel?" She inquired.

" It's specifically because you asked me that I'm unable to listen to you". He said as a response.

" What do you mean?"

" You're driving me away but that isn't what you truly want, is it?"

…

" You may be telling me to go away from you, but your heart is saying otherwise. Your heart is telling me to stay and not to go away from you. You want someone to stay. You never asked them to leave. You never meant to hurt them as you couldn't hurt a fly. You're as sweet as you're kind". Angel crouches before her, staring at her tenderly, making Angelique blush in the process.

" You------ Do what you want! I won't care if anything happens to you". She left the terrace in a rush.

" See you tomorrow, Angelique!"

I should show Oscar this recording and have him listen to its content.

In the Tsukishima Residence-----------

Why did Angel tell me that? He talked as if he knew everything. For some reason, the way he behaves around me, cares for me, and speaks to me, sounded so familiar and I don't know why.

You're so sweet and kind but that man will destroy you if he gets to know that I'm close to you. No matter what, I shall protect you from him.

The following day, Angel went in search of Oscar. It didn't take him much time to find him.

" What do you want, Mukaido?" Oscar was in an unpleasant mood.

" I want to show you something!" He said in a firm tone.

That's right! After I show you this recording, you won't misjudge Angelique anymore and your friendship will be back on track, Angel grinned to himself.

What does he want to show me? Oscar subconsciously wondered.

" What is it?" He inquired.

" I want to show you a recording and after you have listened to it, you shall understand that Angelique had nothing to do with whatever happened in your respective pasts". He said firmly.

What is he saying? How can a recording prove anything? Oscar finds it hard to believe.

" By the look on your face, I can see that you don't believe what I'm telling you. This recording shall prove Angelique's innocence or in a way, make you doubt your judgment". He said with assurance.

" I don't want to listen to it and mostly because it concerns her". He said in indifference.

" I knew this would be your reaction. You won't listen to this recording as you're afraid this recording will prove you wrong. You're afraid to discover in astonishment that your hatred and misbehavior was uncalled for".

" Shut up! I'm not afraid of anything!" He screamed.

" Prove me wrong then and listen to this recording! We've got thirty more minutes before the beginning of homeroom. Come with me!"

Angel brought Oscar on the roof.

" Here's the perfect place! No one will come here and interrupt us!"

" Before we start, I have a question to ask". He said out of the blue.

" Shoot your question!"

" Why are you doing so much for someone you know nothing of?" He asked in an interrogative tone. " Why are you so persistent in proving her innocence?"

" No reason! I just don't like people being mistreated and by a friend to boost". He said in response.

" We're not friends!"

" You're not together anymore because you distanced yourself from her and that was really uncalled for. Someone you knew so well and trusted, without a second of hesitation, you left her as if she never counted in the first place. You hurt her and bullied her as you wished but she never retaliates as she thought herself responsible for your suffering".

…

" Because of you, I did something uncalled for. Recording someone without their permission is a bad thing to do. I hope this recording will open up your brain and make you see the truth you've tried so hard to avoid". Angel handed him the recording.